Mobile development platform in a cloud based architecture

ABSTRACT

Embodiments are directed towards mobile application development in a cloud-based architecture. Mobile applications may be designed to communicate with a cloud platform over a network. Mobile application developers may be enabled to submit cloud code to cloud platforms for use by mobile applications. If cloud code is provided to a cloud platform, the cloud platform may perform one or more actions to authenticate the cloud code, such as, ensuring that that the user providing the cloud code is authorized to provide the cloud code. If the cloud code is authenticated the cloud platform may perform one or more actions to validate the cloud code. If validated, the cloud code may be activated for use by mobile applications and/or mobile application developers. Activation of the cloud code may include associating the cloud code with one or more function calls and/or with one or more trigger points.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims benefit of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 13/829,771, entitled “Mobile Development Platform in a Cloud BasedArchitecture” and filed Mar. 14, 2013, which is specificallyincorporated by reference for all that it discloses and teaches.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to mobile application development in acloud-based architecture, and more particularly, but not exclusively, todeploying mobile application code in a cloud-based environment.

BACKGROUND

As the popularity and complexity of mobile applications has increased,more mobile applications use application platforms to provide scalablefunctionality for their mobile applications. Application platforms mayprovide remote functionality, remote storage, or the like, that mobileapplications may interact with over a network. In some cases, networkslinking mobile applications and application platforms may be slow and/orunreliable. As a result, mobile application performance may suffer ifinteractions between mobile applications and application platformsincrease in number and complexity.

Furthermore, as the complexity of mobile applications increases some mayrequire custom services that may be difficult for an applicationplatform to provide. If an application platform lacks sufficientfeatures, mobile applications may be required to implement the featurelocally on the mobile devices. Performing the additional tasks that maybe required for complex applications at the mobile devices may requirethe use of more resources on the mobile device and increased networktransactions between the mobile device and the application platform.Thus, it is with respect to these considerations and others that thepresent innovations have been made.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a system environment in which various embodiments maybe implemented;

FIG. 2A shows a schematic drawing of a rack of blade servers;

FIG. 2B illustrates a schematic embodiment of a blade server that may beincluded in a rack of blade servers such as that shown in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic embodiment of a client device;

FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic embodiment of a network device;

FIG. 5 illustrates a portion of a logical architecture for employingcloud code in accordance with at least one of the various embodiments;

FIG. 6 shows an overview flowchart for a process for deploying cloudcode in accordance with at least one of the various embodiments;

FIG. 7 shows a flowchart for a process for validating cloud code inaccordance with at least one of the various embodiments;

FIG. 8 shows a flowchart for a process for resolving a function callusing cloud code in accordance with at least one of the variousembodiments; and

FIG. 9 shows a flowchart for a watcher process in accordance with atleast one of the various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments now will be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, andwhich show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments bywhich the invention may be practiced. The embodiments may, however, beembodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limitedto the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments areprovided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and willfully convey the scope of the embodiments to those skilled in the art.Among other things, the various embodiments may be methods, systems,media or devices. Accordingly, the various embodiments may take the formof an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment oran embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. The followingdetailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

Throughout the specification and claims, the following terms take themeanings explicitly associated herein, unless the context clearlydictates otherwise. The phrase “in one embodiment” as used herein doesnot necessarily refer to the same embodiment, though it may.Furthermore, the phrase “in another embodiment” as used herein does notnecessarily refer to a different embodiment, although it may. Thus, asdescribed below, various embodiments may be readily combined, withoutdeparting from the scope or spirit of the invention.

In addition, as used herein, the term “or” is an inclusive “or”operator, and is equivalent to the term “and/or,” unless the contextclearly dictates otherwise. The term “based on” is not exclusive andallows for being based on additional factors not described, unless thecontext clearly dictates otherwise. In addition, throughout thespecification, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” include pluralreferences. The meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on.”

For example embodiments, the following terms are also used hereinaccording to the corresponding meaning, unless the context clearlydictates otherwise.

The term “cloud platform” as used herein refers to an applicationplatform that may provide services that may be used by mobileapplication developers to simplify the development of their mobileapplications. The cloud platform may be accessible over a network bymobile applications operating on mobile devices. The services providedby a cloud platform may vary, but they may provide, offline storage,user databases, support for payment transactions, or the like. In atleast one of the various embodiments, cloud platforms may be configuredto provide service to general purpose applications in additional tomobile applications. While a cloud platform may be operative in acloud-based environment, it is not so limited; other well-knownoperational architectures may be employed.

The term “cloud code,” “cloud code module” as used herein refers toselection of software source code that may be provided to the cloudplatform by a mobile application developer. Cloud code is a chunk ofsoftware that may be custom designed by the mobile application developerfor use in one or more mobile application. The cloud code may bedeployed to a cloud platform and may be integrated into the cloudplatform services and made available one or more mobile applications.Cloud code may be developed using a variety of computer programminglanguages.

The term “cloud code server” as used herein refers to a server and/ornetwork device that may be configured to execute cloud code modules.Cloud code server may be arranged to include one or more sandboxes forexecuting cloud code.

The term “sandbox” as used herein refers to a special purpose computingprocess that may reside on a cloud code server. Sandboxes are designedto execute cloud code in an instrumented and/or monitored runtimeenvironment. They may include restrictions on the resources that may beaccessed by the cloud code being executed. In at least one of thevarious embodiments, sandboxes may be designed to be compatible with oneor more computer programming languages.

The term “function call” as used herein refers to a function call madefrom a within a mobile application directed to services provided by acloud platform. Mobile application developers may use function calls toaccess the services provided by cloud platforms. Function calls maycorrespond to built-in services that are provided by the cloud platform.Also, some function calls may be associated with cloud code. Functioncalls that are linked to or associated with cloud code may enableactions be performed on a cloud code server.

The term “mobile application” as used herein refers to acomputing/software application designed to operate on a mobile device.Mobile applications may include function calls that access services andfeatures provided by a cloud platform. While the term mobile applicationis used throughout this description, one of ordinary skill in art thewill appreciate that other type of applications may benefit from theseinnovations and are well within the scope and spirit of the disclosedinnovations, including, but not limited to, web applications, web pages,“desktop” applications, or the like.

The term “mobile application developer” as used herein refers to usersthat design and develop mobile applications. Mobile applicationdevelopers may create and deploy cloud code that may be employed fromwithin mobile application.

Briefly stated, various embodiments are directed towards mobileapplication development in a cloud-based architecture. In at least oneof the various embodiments, mobile applications may be designed tocommunicate with a cloud platform over a network. In at least one of thevarious embodiments, mobile application developers may be enabled tosubmit cloud code to cloud platforms for use by mobile applications. Ifcloud code is provided to a cloud platform, the cloud platform mayperform one or more actions to authenticate the cloud code, such as,ensuring that the user providing the cloud code is authorized to providethe cloud code. If the cloud code is authenticated, in at least one ofthe various embodiments, the cloud platform may perform one or moreactions to validate the cloud code. If validated, the cloud code may beactivated for use by mobile applications and/or mobile applicationdevelopers. Activation of the cloud code may include associating thecloud code with one or more function calls and/or with one or moretrigger points.

In at least one of the various embodiments, if the communication fromthe mobile application includes a function call rather than cloud code,the cloud platform may determine if the provided function call isassociated with cloud code or if it is associated with a built-in cloudplatform service. If the function call is associated with cloud code,the cloud platform may perform one or more actions to determine asandbox residing on a cloud code server for executing the cloud code. Ifa suitable sandbox is available, the cloud platform may provide thecloud code to the sandbox for execution. The results of executing thecloud code in the sandbox may be provided to the mobile application thatmade the function call.

In at least one of the various embodiments, determining the sandbox forexecuting the cloud code may include performing one or more loadbalancing actions among the cloud code servers. In at least one of thevarious embodiments, cloud code servers may be in communication with thecloud platform and may be updating the cloud platform on their statusand sandbox availability.

In at least one of the various embodiments, validating cloud code duringdeployment may include scanning the contents of the cloud code (e.g.,source code) to detect if unsafe code may be included in the cloud code,Unsafe code may include instructions that may cause the problems forother sandboxes, cloud code servers, or the cloud platform. For example,unsafe instruction may include, potentially infinite loops, excessiverecursion, attempting to access restricted resources, or the like. In atleast one of the various embodiments, unsafe instructions may bedetermined by looking for known patterns in the source code of the cloudcode.

In at least one of the various embodiments, sandboxes may includespecially modified system calls that may transparently prevent the cloudcode from exceeding resource thresholds. For example, memory allocationsystem calls may be modified to limit the amount of memory that can beallocation within various scopes, such as, per call, per process, persandbox, per cloud code server, or the like. Such modifications mayimpose safety and performance quotes on resources that go beyond thestandard features of the programming language/environment used by thecloud code.

In at least one of the various embodiments, one or more watcherprocesses may be employed to monitor the operations of the sandboxesand/or the cloud code servers. If non-performing sandboxes arediscovered the watcher process may cause the sandbox to bereset/restarted. If non-performing cloud code servers are discoveredthey may be reset and/or rebooted. If function calls linked to cloudcode are interrupted by resets, reboots, or timeouts, they may beretried by the cloud platform.

Illustrative Operating Environment

FIG. 1 shows components of an environment in which various embodimentsmay be practiced. Not all of the components may be required to practicethe various embodiments, and variations in the arrangement and type ofthe components may be made without departing from the spirit or scope ofthe various embodiments.

In at least one embodiment, cloud network 102 enables one or morenetwork services for a user based on the operation of correspondingarrangements 104 and 106 of virtually any type of networked computingdevice. As shown, the networked computing devices may include cloud codeserver device 112, cloud platform server device 114, enclosure of bladeservers 110, enclosure of server computers 116, super computer networkdevice 118, and the like. Although not shown, one or more mobile devicesmay be included in cloud network 102 in one or more arrangements toprovide one or more network services to a user. Also, these arrangementsof networked computing devices may or may not be mutually exclusive ofeach other.

In at least one of the various embodiments, cloud code server device 112may include module, processes, components, services, or the like, forexecuting cloud code using one or more sandboxes, and the like. Further,in at least one of the various embodiments, cloud platform server device114 may include processes, modules, services, components, or the like,for managing requests and other communications to and from clientdevices that may be running various client applications, and forproviding communications to one or more cloud code server devices, suchas cloud code server device 112, and the like. In at least one of thevarious embodiments, cloud code server device 112 and/or cloud platformserver device 114 may be employed to validate cloud code and monitor oneor more devices and/or processes that may be provided cloud code forprocessing. Both cloud code server device 112 and cloud platform serverdevice 114 may perform actions further described in conjunction withFIGS. 5-9.

Also, in at least one of the various embodiments, enclosure of bladeserves 110, enclosure of enclosure of server computers 116, supercomputer network device 118 may include network devices that perform theactions of cloud code server device 112 and cloud platform server device114.

Additionally, the user may employ a plurality of virtually any type ofwired or wireless networked computing devices to communicate with cloudnetwork 102 and access at least one of the network services enabled byone or more of arrangements 104 and 106. These networked computingdevices may include tablet client device 122, handheld client device124, wearable client device 126, desktop client device 120, and thelike. Although not shown, in various embodiments, the user may alsoemploy notebook computers, desktop computers, microprocessor-based orprogrammable consumer electronics, network appliances, mobiletelephones, smart telephones, pagers, radio frequency (RF) devices,infrared (IR) devices, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), televisions,integrated devices combining at least one of the preceding devices, andthe like.

One embodiment of a client device is described in more detail below inconjunction with

FIG. 3. Generally, client devices may include virtually anysubstantially portable networked computing device capable ofcommunicating over a wired, wireless, or some combination of wired andwireless network.

In various embodiments, network 102 may employ virtually any form ofcommunication technology and topology. For example, network 102 caninclude local area networks Personal Area Networks (PANs), (LANs),Campus Area Networks (CANs), Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) Wide AreaNetworks (WANs), direct communication connections, and the like, or anycombination thereof. On an interconnected set of LANs, including thosebased on differing architectures and protocols, a router acts as a linkbetween LANs, enabling messages to be sent from one to another. Inaddition, communication links within networks may include virtually anytype of link, e.g., twisted wire pair lines, optical fibers, open airlasers or coaxial cable, plain old telephone service (POTS), waveguides, acoustic, full or fractional dedicated digital communicationlines including T1, T2, T3, and T4, and/or other carrier and other wiredmedia and wireless media. These carrier mechanisms may includeE-carriers, Integrated Services Digital Networks (ISDNs), universalserial bus (USB) ports, Firewire ports, Thunderbolt ports, DigitalSubscriber Lines (DSLs), wireless links including satellite links, orother communications links known to those skilled in the art. Moreover,these communication links may further employ any of a variety of digitalsignaling technologies, including without limit, for example, DS-0,DS-1, DS-2, DS-3, DS-4, OC-3, OC-12, OC-48, or the like. Furthermore,remotely located computing devices could be remotely connected tonetworks via a modem and a temporary communication link. In essence,network 102 may include virtually any communication technology by whichinformation may travel between computing devices. Additionally, in thevarious embodiments, the communicated information may include virtuallyany kind of information including, but not limited to processor-readableinstructions, data structures, program modules, applications, raw data,control data, archived data, video data, voice data, image data, textdata, and the like.

Network 102 may be partially or entirely embodied by one or morewireless networks. A wireless network may include any of a variety ofwireless sub-networks that may further overlay stand-alone ad-hocnetworks, and the like. Such sub-networks may include mesh networks,Wireless LAN (WLAN) networks, Wireless Router (WR) mesh, cellularnetworks, pico networks, PANs, Open Air Laser networks, Microwavenetworks, and the like. Network 102 may further include an autonomoussystem of intermediate network devices such as terminals, gateways,routers, switches, firewalls, load balancers, and the like, which arecoupled to wired and/or wireless communication links. These autonomousdevices may be operable to move freely and randomly and organizethemselves arbitrarily, such that the topology of network 102 may changerapidly.

Network 102 may further employ a plurality of wired and wireless accesstechnologies, e.g., 2nd (2G), 3rd (3G), 4th (4G), 5^(th) (5G) generationwireless access technologies, and the like, for mobile devices. Thesewired and wireless access technologies may also include Global Systemfor Mobile communication (GSM), General Packet Radio Services (GPRS),Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE), Code Division Multiple Access(CDMA), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Long TermEvolution Advanced (LTE), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System(UMTS), Orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM), Wideband CodeDivision Multiple Access (W-CDMA), Code Division Multiple Access 2000(CDMA2000), Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO), High-Speed Downlink PacketAccess (HSDPA), IEEE 802.16 Worldwide Interoperability for MicrowaveAccess (WiMax), ultra wide band (UWB), user datagram protocol (UDP),transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP), any portion ofthe Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model protocols, Short MessageService (SMS), Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), Web Access Protocol(WAP), Session Initiation Protocol/Real-time Transport Protocol(SIP/RTP), or any of a variety of other wireless or wired communicationprotocols. In one non-limiting example, network 102 may enable a mobiledevice to wirelessly access a network service through a combination ofseveral radio network access technologies such as GSM, EDGE, SMS, HSDPA,LTE and the like.

Enclosure of Blade Servers

FIG. 2A shows one embodiment of an enclosure of blade servers 200, whichare also illustrated in FIG. 1. Enclosure of blade servers 200 mayinclude many more or fewer components than those shown in FIG. 2A.However, the components shown are sufficient to disclose an illustrativeembodiment. Generally, a blade server is a stripped down servercomputing device with a modular design optimized to minimize the use ofphysical space and energy. A blade enclosure can include several bladeservers and provide each with power, cooling, network interfaces,input/output interfaces, and resource management. Although not shown, anenclosure of server computers typically includes several computers thatmay have at least one network connection and a power cord connection.Each server computer often includes redundant components for power andinterfaces.

As shown in the figure, enclosure 200 contains power supply 204, andinput/output interface 206, rack logic 208, several blade servers 210,212, 214, and 216, and backplane 202. Power supply 204 provides power toeach component and blade server within the enclosure. The input/outputinterface 206 provides internal and external communication forcomponents and blade servers within the enclosure. Backplane 208 canenable passive and active communication of power, logic, input signals,and output signals for each blade server.

Illustrative Blade Server

FIG. 2B illustrates an illustrative embodiment of blade server 250,which may include many more or fewer components than those shown. Asshown in FIG. 2A, a plurality of blade servers may be included in oneenclosure that shares resources provided by the enclosure to reducesize, power, and cost.

Blade server 250 includes processor 252 which communicates with memory256 via bus 254. Blade server 250 also includes input/output interface290, processor-readable stationary storage device 292, andprocessor-readable removable storage device 294. Input/output interface290 can enable blade server 250 to communicate with other blade servers,mobile devices, network devices, and the like. Interface 290 may providewireless and/or wired communication links for blade server.Processor-readable stationary storage device 292 may include one or moredevices such as an electromagnetic storage device (hard disk), solidstate hard disk (SSD), hybrid of both an SSD and a hard disk, and thelike. In some configurations, a blade server may include multiplestorage devices. Also, processor-readable removable storage device 294enables processor 252 to read non-transitory storage media for storingand accessing processor-readable instructions, modules, data structures,and other forms of data. The non-transitory storage media may includeFlash drives, tape media, floppy media, and the like.

Memory 256 may include Random Access Memory (RAM), Read-Only Memory(ROM), hybrid of RAM and ROM, and the like. As shown, memory 256includes operating system 258 and basic input/output system (BIOS) 260for enabling the operation of blade server 250. In various embodiments,a general-purpose operating system may be employed such as a version ofUNIX, LINUX™, a specialized server operating system such as Microsoft'sWindows Server™, or the like.

Memory 256 further includes one or more data storage 270, which can beutilized by blade server 250 to store, among other things, applications280 and/or other data. Data store 270 may include program code, data,algorithms, and the like, for use by processor 252 to execute andperform actions such as those described in conjunction with FIGS. 5-9.In one embodiment, at least some of datastore 270 might also be storedon another component of blade server 250, including, but not limited to,processor-readable removable storage device 294, processor-readablestationary storage device 292, or any other non-transitoryprocessor-readable storage device (not shown). Data storage 270 mayinclude, for example, cloud code 274, triggers 276, sandboxes 278, orthe like. Cloud code 274 may contain cloud code in source code formand/or compiled form, as well as other supporting data. Likewise,triggers 276 may contain triggers and/or trigger point registrations,and other supporting data, arranged in lists, databases, configurationfiles, or the like. And, sandboxes 278 may contain one or more sandboxesand supporting data.

Applications 280 may include processor executable instructions which,when executed by blade server 250, transmit, receive, and/or otherwiseprocess messages, audio, video, and enable communication with othernetworked computing devices. Examples of application programs includedatabase servers, file servers, calendars, transcoders, and so forth.Applications 280 may include, for example, cloud code application 282,cloud platform server 284, watcher application 286, which may be enabledto perform actions further described below in conjunction with FIGS.5-9.

Human interface components (not pictured), may be remotely associatedwith blade server 250, which can enable remote input to and/or outputfrom blade server 250. For example, information to a display or from akeyboard can be routed through the input/output interface 290 toappropriate peripheral human interface components that are remotelylocated. Examples of peripheral human interface components include, butare not limited to, an audio interface, a display, keypad, pointingdevice, touch interface, and the like.

Furthermore, in at least one of the various embodiments, codeapplication 282, cloud platform server 284, watcher application 286 maybe operative in a cloud-based computing environment. In at least one ofthe various embodiments, these applications, and others, that comprisethe mobile development platform may be executing within virtual machinesand/or virtual servers that may be managed in a cloud-based basedcomputing environment. In at least one of the various embodiments, inthis context the applications may flow from one physical blade serverand/or network device within the cloud-based environment to anotherdepending on performance and scaling considerations automaticallymanaged by the cloud computing environment. Likewise, in at least one ofthe various embodiments, virtual machines and/or virtual serversdedicated to running code application 282, cloud platform server 284,watcher application 286 may be provisioned and de-commissionedautomatically.

Also, in at least one of the various embodiments, cloud code 274,triggers 276, sandboxes 278, or the like, may located on virtual serversrunning in a cloud-based computing environment rather than being tied toone or more specific physical blade servers.

Illustrative Client Device

FIG. 3 shows one embodiment of client device 300 that may include manymore or less components than those shown. Client device 300 mayrepresent, for example, at least one embodiment of client devices shownin FIG. 1.

Client device 300 may include processor 302 in communication with memory304 via bus 328. Client device 300 may also include power supply 330,network interface 332, audio interface 356, display 350, keypad 352,illuminator 354, video interface 342, input/output interface 338, hapticinterface 364, global positioning systems (GPS) receiver 358, open airgesture interface 360, temperature interface 362, camera(s) 340,projector 346, pointing device interface 366, processor-readablestationary storage device 334, and processor-readable removable storagedevice 336. Client device 300 may optionally communicate with a basestation (not shown), or directly with another computing device. And inone embodiment, although not shown, a gyroscope may be employed withinclient device 300 to measuring and/or maintaining an orientation ofclient device 300.

Power supply 330 may provide power to client device 300. A rechargeableor non-rechargeable battery may be used to provide power. The power mayalso be provided by an external power source, such as an AC adapter or apowered docking cradle that supplements and/or recharges the battery.

Network interface 332 includes circuitry for coupling client device 300to one or more networks, and is constructed for use with one or morecommunication protocols and technologies including, but not limited to,protocols and technologies that implement any portion of the OSI modelfor mobile communication (GSM), CDMA, time division multiple access(TDMA), UDP, TCP/IP, SMS, MMS, GPRS, WAP, UWB, WiMax, SIP/RTP, GPRS,EDGE, WCDMA, LTE, UMTS, OFDM, CDMA2000, EV-DO, HSDPA, or any of avariety of other wireless communication protocols. Network interface 332is sometimes known as a transceiver, transceiving device, or networkinterface card (NIC).

Audio interface 356 may be arranged to produce and receive audio signalssuch as the sound of a human voice. For example, audio interface 356 maybe coupled to a speaker and microphone (not shown) to enabletelecommunication with others and/or generate an audio acknowledgementfor some action. A microphone in audio interface 356 can also be usedfor input to or control of client device 300, e.g., using voicerecognition, detecting touch based on sound, and the like.

Display 350 may be a liquid crystal display (LCD), gas plasma,electronic ink, light emitting diode (LED), Organic LED (OLED) or anyother type of light reflective or light transmissive display that can beused with a computing device. Display 350 may also include a touchinterface 344 arranged to receive input from an object such as a stylusor a digit from a human hand, and may use resistive, capacitive, surfaceacoustic wave (SAW), infrared, radar, or other technologies to sensetouch and/or gestures.

Projector 346 may be a remote handheld projector or an integratedprojector that is capable of projecting an image on a remote wall or anyother reflective object such as a remote screen.

Video interface 342 may be arranged to capture video images, such as astill photo, a video segment, an infrared video, or the like. Forexample, video interface 342 may be coupled to a digital video camera, aweb-camera, or the like. Video interface 342 may comprise a lens, animage sensor, and other electronics. Image sensors may include acomplementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) integrated circuit,charge-coupled device (CCD), or any other integrated circuit for sensinglight.

Keypad 352 may comprise any input device arranged to receive input froma user. For example, keypad 352 may include a push button numeric dial,or a keyboard. Keypad 352 may also include command buttons that areassociated with selecting and sending images.

Illuminator 354 may provide a status indication and/or provide light.Illuminator 354 may remain active for specific periods of time or inresponse to events. For example, when illuminator 354 is active, it maybacklight the buttons on keypad 352 and stay on while the client deviceis powered. Also, illuminator 354 may backlight these buttons in variouspatterns when particular actions are performed, such as dialing anotherclient device. Illuminator 354 may also cause light sources positionedwithin a transparent or translucent case of the client device toilluminate in response to actions.

Client device 300 may also comprise input/output interface 338 forcommunicating with external peripheral devices or other computingdevices such as other client devices and network devices. The peripheraldevices may include an audio headset, display screen glasses, remotespeaker system, remote speaker and microphone system, and the like.Input/output interface 338 can utilize one or more technologies, such asUniversal Serial Bus (USB), Infrared, WiFi, WiMax, Bluetooth™, and thelike.

Haptic interface 364 may be arranged to provide tactile feedback to auser of the client device. For example, the haptic interface 364 may beemployed to vibrate client device 300 in a particular way when anotheruser of a computing device is calling. Temperature interface 362 may beused to provide a temperature measurement input and/or a temperaturechanging output to a user of client device 300. Open air gestureinterface 360 may sense physical gestures of a user of client device300, for example, by using single or stereo video cameras, radar, agyroscopic sensor inside a device held or worn by the user, or the like.Camera 340 may be used to track physical eye movements of a user ofclient device 300.

GPS transceiver 358 can determine the physical coordinates of clientdevice 300 on the surface of the Earth, which typically outputs alocation as latitude and longitude values. GPS transceiver 358 can alsoemploy other geo-positioning mechanisms, including, but not limited to,triangulation, assisted GPS (AGPS), Enhanced Observed Time Difference(E-OTD), Cell Identifier (CI), Service Area Identifier (SAI), EnhancedTiming Advance (ETA), Base Station Subsystem (BSS), or the like, tofurther determine the physical location of client device 300 on thesurface of the Earth. It is understood that under different conditions,GPS transceiver 358 can determine a physical location for client device300. In at least one embodiment, however, client device 300 may, throughother components, provide other information that may be employed todetermine a physical location of the device, including for example, aMedia Access Control (MAC) address, IP address, and the like.

Human interface components can be peripheral devices that are physicallyseparate from client device 300, allowing for remote input and/or outputto client device 300. For example, information routed as described herethrough human interface components such as display 350 or keyboard 352can instead be routed through network interface 332 to appropriate humaninterface components located remotely. Examples of human interfaceperipheral components that may be remote include, but are not limitedto, audio devices, pointing devices, keypads, displays, cameras,projectors, and the like. These peripheral components may communicateover a Pico Network such as Bluetooth™, Zigbee™ and the like. Onenon-limiting example of a client device with such peripheral humaninterface components is a wearable computing device, which might includea remote pico projector along with one or more cameras that remotelycommunicate with a separately located client device to sense a user'sgestures toward portions of an image projected by the pico projectoronto a reflected surface such as a wall or the user's hand.

A client device may include a browser application that is configured toreceive and to send web pages, web-based messages, graphics, text,multimedia, and the like. The client device's browser application mayemploy virtually any programming language, including a wirelessapplication protocol messages (WAP), and the like. In at least oneembodiment, the browser application is enabled to employ Handheld DeviceMarkup Language (HDML), Wireless Markup Language (WML), WMLScript,JavaScript, Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML), HyperTextMarkup Language (HTML), eXtensible Markup Language (XML), HTML5, and thelike.

Memory 304 may include RAM, ROM, and/or other types of memory. Memory304 illustrates an example of computer-readable storage media (devices)for storage of information such as computer-readable instructions, datastructures, program modules or other data. Memory 304 may store BIOS 308for controlling low-level operation of client device 300. The memory mayalso store operating system 306 for controlling the operation of clientdevice 300. It will be appreciated that this component may include ageneral-purpose operating system such as a version of UNIX, or LINUX™,or a specialized mobile computer communication operating system such asWindows Phone™, or the Symbian® operating system. The operating systemmay include, or interface with a Java virtual machine module thatenables control of hardware components and/or operating systemoperations via Java application programs.

Memory 304 may further include one or more data storage 310, which canbe utilized by client device 300 to store, among other things,applications 320 and/or other data. For example, data storage 310 mayalso be employed to store information that describes variouscapabilities of client device 300. The information may then be providedto another device based on any of a variety of events, including beingsent as part of a header during a communication, sent upon request, orthe like. Data storage 310 may also be employed to store socialnetworking information including address books, buddy lists, aliases,user profile information, or the like. Data storage 310 may furtherinclude program code, data, algorithms, and the like, for use by aprocessor, such as processor 302 to execute and perform actions. In oneembodiment, at least some of data storage 310 might also be stored onanother component of client device 300, including, but not limited to,non-transitory processor-readable removable storage device 336,processor-readable stationary storage device 334, or even external tothe client device.

Applications 320 may include computer executable instructions which,when executed by mobile device 300, transmit, receive, and/or otherwiseprocess instructions and data. Applications 320 may include, forexample, cloud platform interface 322. In at least one of the variousembodiments, cloud platform interface 322 may be used to exchangecommunications to and from cloud platform server device 114 and/or cloudcode device 112, including, but not limited to, queries, searches, APIcalls, or the like. Mobile application 324 may provide variousapplication services for users and it may employ cloud platforminterface 322 to communicate with cloud code server device 112 and cloudplatform server device 114.

Other examples of application programs include calendars, searchprograms, email client applications, IM applications, SMS applications,Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) applications, contact managers, taskmanagers, transcoders, database programs, word processing programs,security applications, spreadsheet programs, games, search programs, andso forth.

Illustrative Network Device

FIG. 4 shows one embodiment of network device 400 that may be includedin a system implementing the invention. Network device 400 may includemany more or less components than those shown in FIG. 4. However, thecomponents shown are sufficient to disclose an illustrative embodimentfor practicing these innovations. Network device 400 may represent, forexample, one embodiment of at least one of network device 112, 114, or120 of FIG. 1.

As shown in the figure, network device 400 includes a processor 402 incommunication with a memory 404 via a bus 428. Network device 400 alsoincludes a power supply 430, network interface 432, audio interface 456,display 450, keyboard 452, input/output interface 438,processor-readable stationary storage device 434, and processor-readableremovable storage device 436. Power supply 430 provides power to networkdevice 400.

Network interface 432 includes circuitry for coupling network device 400to one or more networks, and is constructed for use with one or morecommunication protocols and technologies including, but not limited to,protocols and technologies that implement any portion of the OpenSystems Interconnection model (OSI model), global system for mobilecommunication (GSM), code division multiple access (CDMA), time divisionmultiple access (TDMA), user datagram protocol (UDP), transmissioncontrol protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP), Short Message Service(SMS), Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), general packet radio service(GPRS), WAP, ultra wide band (UWB), IEEE 802.16 WorldwideInteroperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), Session InitiationProtocol/Real-time Transport Protocol (SIP/RTP), or any of a variety ofother wired and wireless communication protocols. Network interface 432is sometimes known as a transceiver, transceiving device, or networkinterface card (NIC). Network device 400 may optionally communicate witha base station (not shown), or directly with another computing device.

Audio interface 456 is arranged to produce and receive audio signalssuch as the sound of a human voice. For example, audio interface 456 maybe coupled to a speaker and microphone (not shown) to enabletelecommunication with others and/or generate an audio acknowledgementfor some action. A microphone in audio interface 456 can also be usedfor input to or control of network device 400, for example, using voicerecognition.

Display 450 may be a liquid crystal display (LCD), gas plasma,electronic ink, light emitting diode (LED), Organic LED (OLED) or anyother type of light reflective or light transmissive display that can beused with a computing device. Display 450 may be a handheld projector orpico projector capable of projecting an image on a wall or other object.

Network device 400 may also comprise input/output interface 438 forcommunicating with external devices not shown in FIG. 4. Input/outputinterface 438 can utilize one or more wired or wireless communicationtechnologies, such as USB™, Firewire™, WiFi, WiMax, Thunderbolt™,Infrared, Bluetooth™, Zigbee™, serial port, parallel port, and the like.

Human interface components can be physically separate from networkdevice 400, allowing for remote input and/or output to network device400. For example, information routed as described here through humaninterface components such as display 450 or keyboard 452 can instead berouted through the network interface 432 to appropriate human interfacecomponents located elsewhere on the network. Human interface componentsinclude any component that allows the computer to take input from, orsend output to, a human user of a computer. Accordingly, pointingdevices such as mice, styluses, track balls, or the like, maycommunicate through pointing device interface 458 to receive user input.

Memory 404 may include Random Access Memory (RAM), Read-Only Memory(ROM), and/or other types of memory. Memory 404 illustrates an exampleof computer-readable storage media (devices) for storage of informationsuch as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modulesor other data. Memory 404 stores a basic input/output system (BIOS) 408for controlling low-level operation of network device 400. The memoryalso stores an operating system 406 for controlling the operation ofnetwork device 400. It will be appreciated that this component mayinclude a general-purpose operating system such as a version of UNIX, orLINUX™, or a specialized operating system such as MicrosoftCorporation's Windows® operating system, or the Apple Corporation's IOS®operating system. The operating system may include, or interface with aJava virtual machine module that enables control of hardware componentsand/or operating system operations via Java application programs.

Memory 404 may further include one or more data storage 410, which canbe utilized by network device 400 to store, among other things,applications 420 and/or other data. For example, data storage 410 mayalso be employed to store information that describes variouscapabilities of network device 400. The information may then be providedto another device based on any of a variety of events, including beingsent as part of a header during a communication, sent upon request, orthe like. Data storage 410 may also be employed to store socialnetworking information including address books, buddy lists, aliases,user profile information, or the like. Data storage 410 may furtherinclude program code, data, algorithms, and the like, for use by aprocessor, such as processor 402 to execute and perform actions such asthose action describe in conjunction with FIGS. 5-9. In one embodiment,at least some of data storage 410 might also be stored on anothercomponent of network device 400, including, but not limited to,non-transitory media inside processor-readable removable storage device436, processor-readable stationary storage device 434, or any othercomputer-readable storage device within network device 400, or evenexternal to network device 400. Data storage 410 may include, forexample, cloud code 412, triggers 414, or sandboxes 416.

Applications 420 may include computer executable instructions which,when executed by network device 400, transmit, receive, and/or otherwiseprocess messages (e.g., SMS, Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), InstantMessage (IM), email, and/or other messages), audio, video, and enabletelecommunication with another user of another mobile device. Otherexamples of application programs include calendars, search programs,email client applications, IM applications, SMS applications, Voice OverInternet Protocol (VOIP) applications, contact managers, task managers,transcoders, database programs, word processing programs, securityapplications, spreadsheet programs, games, search programs, and soforth. Applications 420 may include cloud code application 422, cloudplatform application 424, and watcher application 426 which may beenabled to perform actions further described below in conjunction withFIGS. 5-9. In at least one of the various embodiments, while they may beillustrated here as separate applications, cloud code application 422,cloud platform application 424, or watcher application 426 may beimplemented as modules and/or components of the same application.Further, in at least one of the various embodiments, cloud codeapplication 422, cloud platform application 424, or watcher application426 may be implemented as operating system extensions, modules, plugins,or the like.

Furthermore, in at least one of the various embodiments, cloud codeapplication 422, cloud platform application 424, or watcher application426 may be operative in a cloud-based computing environment. In at leastone of the various embodiments, these applications, and others, thatcomprise the mobile development platform may be executing within virtualmachines and/or virtual servers that may be managed in a cloud-basedbased computing environment. In at least one of the various embodiments,in this context the applications may flow from one physical networkdevice within the cloud-based environment to another depending onperformance and scaling considerations automatically managed by thecloud computing environment. Likewise, in at least one of the variousembodiments, virtual machines and/or virtual servers dedicated torunning cloud code application 422, cloud platform application 424, orwatcher application 426 may be provisioned and de-commissionedautomatically.

Also, in at least one of the various embodiments, cloud code 412,triggers 414, or sandboxes 416, or the like, may located in virtualservers running in a cloud-based computing environment rather than beingtied to one or more specific physical blade servers.

Illustrative Architecture for a Cloud-Based Developer Platform

In at least one of the various embodiments, a cloud platform may be asystem that enables mobile application developers to enrich their mobileapplications by accessing functions and services that may be provided bythe cloud platform. Cloud platforms may provide a variety of predefinedfunctions and API's that provide services useful to develop mobileapplications. A cloud platform may provide API's that may be used inmobile application to provide services, such as, payment services, usermanagement, data services (e.g., storage, searching, or the like),logging, or the like. By providing such services, a cloud platform mayreduce the difficulty of developing mobile applications.

In at least one of the various embodiments, mobile applicationdevelopers may access the services of a cloud platform by integratingtheir application with a cloud platform interface, such as cloudplatform interface 322. In other embodiments, mobile applicationdevelopers may integrate with the cloud platform services using othermechanisms, such as, web applications, web services, or the like. Also,while mobile application and mobile application developers aredescribed, the innovations disclosed are not limited to mobileapplications and/or mobile application developers. One of ordinary skillin the art will appreciate that other applications and/or applicationdevelopers may be enabled to benefit from the innovations describedherein.

In at least one of the various embodiments, a cloud platform may enablemobile application developers to generate application modules thatinclude cloud code. The cloud code modules may be deployed to a cloudplatform enabling additional/customized functionality for theapplications to be executed on the cloud platform. In at least one ofthe various embodiments, mobile application developers may access thedeployed cloud code in their mobile applications using specializefunction calls through the cloud platform interface.

In at least one of the various embodiments, deployed cloud code may beactivated on the cloud platform and may be associated with functioncalls, trigger points, or the like. In at least one of the variousembodiments, the cloud code associated with function calls may beaccessed by name from within a mobile application using a cloud platforminterface. Likewise, cloud code associated with a trigger point may beexecuted before, during, or after, the occurrence one or more eventsand/or function calls that correspond to the trigger point.

In at least one of the various embodiments, the cloud platform and/orcloud platform interface may provide one or more API's that enablemobile application developers to create mobile applications that mayaccess and/or execute deployed cloud code. For example, a mobileapplication developer may deploy cloud code that includes instructionsthat enable sending data to an external system such as, a bank. Thiscloud code may be deployed and associated with a function call named,for example, ‘update_bank_info’. If the cloud code is successfullydeployed, the application developer may enable mobile applications toemploy a function with the mobile application to execute the deployedcloud code on the cloud platform. In one embodiment, a function callcommand may look like “cloud_platform(‘update_bank_info’, ‘12345’,‘100.00’, ‘deposit’, ‘Payday’);” In this example, ‘cloud_platform’ maybe an application interface function provided by the cloud platforminterface enabling access to the cloud platform; ‘update_bank_info’identifies the specific cloud code that should be used (e.g., thedeployed cloud code that is associated with the name‘update_bank_info’); and the remainder of the terms may be inputparameters that may be passed to the cloud code as it is executed on thecloud platform.

In at least one of the various embodiments, if a communication thatincludes a function call associate with cloud code is provided to thecloud platform, the cloud platform may validate, the cloud code call,locate the previously deployed cloud code, identify a suitable cloudcode server, execute the cloud code using any supplied parameters, andprovide the results to the requesting mobile application.

Many mobile development platforms may require developers to understandand develop expertise in writing software for several technology layersthat may be common to mobile application development. For example, inmost cases, a developer may need to have expertise with severaltechnology layers, such as, user-interface frameworks (UI), mobilenetworking, server networking, application logic (mobile client andservice-side), database operations, machine level (hardware and/orvirtual), or the like. Some of this complexity may be mitigated byintegrating with generalized cloud based services that may provideaccess to virtualized databases and virtualized server resources, butmuch of the application development complexity still remains theresponsibility of the developers.

In at least one of the various embodiments, a software development kitand/or an API provided by the cloud code platform (e.g., via cloudplatform interface 322) may reduce the number of technology layersrequired for development mobile applications. By utilizing the cloudplatform developers may reduce required technology layers to the UIapplication layer and the cloud platform interface 322. Developers mayrely on the cloud platform and/or the cloud platform interface toperform the complex actions that are normally done by other technologylayers, such as, mobile networking, server, networking, applicationlogic (mobile client and service-side), database operations, and machinelevel (hardware and/or virtual), or the like.

Furthermore, in at least one of the various embodiments, the cloud codeproduced and deployed to the cloud platform by mobile developers mayalso use the cloud platform interface (e.g., the cloud platform API,SDK) from within the cloud platform itself. Thus, in at least one of thevarious embodiments, the mobile application developers may leveragetheir expertise in using the cloud platform interface for developingserver-side cloud code deployed for running on the cloud platform.

FIG. 5 represents portions of logical architecture 500 for mobiledevelopment in a cloud-based architecture in accordance with at leastone of the various embodiments. Logical architecture 500 is anon-limiting example presented to help clarify the discussion of theinnovations. It is sufficient to teach the various embodiments andinnovations described herein. However, one of ordinary skill in the artwill appreciate that other architectures may be used without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the innovations disclosed herein.

In at least one of the various embodiments, consumer client device 502may include one or more applications, such as mobile application 324, tocommunicate with cloud platform server 504 over a network (not shown).Consumer client device 502 may include mobile applications that employan interface, such as cloud platform interface 322, to facilitatecommunication with cloud platform server 504. Further, consumer clientdevice 502, may communicate with cloud platform server using a webbrowser, such as web browser 326, web applications, mobile messaging(e.g., SMS, MMS, or the like), or the like. In at least one of thevarious embodiments, developer client device 506, may include one ormore applications that enable communication with cloud platform server504 including various well-known methods such as, command-lineinterfaces (e.g., command shells), web applications, custom GUIapplications, software developer environments, or the like. Developerclient device 506 may enable mobile application developers to generatecloud code and deploy it to cloud platforms. In at least one of thevarious embodiments, developer client device 506 may be one of a, clientdevice 120, client device 122, client device 124, network device 400, orthe like.

In at least one of the various embodiments, cloud platform server 504,may be a network device arranged to communicate with consumer clientdevice 502 and developer client device 506 over a network. In at leastone of the various embodiments, cloud platform server 504 may beoperating on cloud platform server device 114, enclosure of bladeservers 110, enclosure of server computers 116, blade server 250,network device 400, or the like, or combination thereof. In at least oneof the various embodiments, the cloud platform server may operate as themain access point for the cloud platform.

In at least one of the various embodiments, if cloud platform server 504is provided cloud code from a developer client device (e.g., such asdeveloper client device 506) it may perform a variety of validationoperations. If the cloud code is validated may be deployed andactivated.

In at least one of the various embodiments, if a command for executingcloud code (e.g., a particular function call) is provided to cloudplatform server 504, cloud platform server 504 may locate theappropriate cloud code and determine one or more cloud code servers,such as, cloud code server 508 or cloud code server 510 where theactions enabled by the cloud code may be performed.

In at least one of the various embodiments, cloud code server 508, andcloud code server 510, may be devices, such as, cloud code server device112, enclosure of blade servers 110, enclosure of server computers 116,blade server 250, network device 400, or the like, or combinationthereof. In at least one of the various embodiments, cloud code serversmay include, applications such as, cloud code application 282, or cloudcode application 422. In at least one of the various embodiments, cloudcode server 508 and 510 may communicate to cloud platform server 504using network 516.

In at least one of the various embodiments, there may be a plurality ofcloud code servers arranged into cooperative clusters, each accessibleover a network (e.g., network 516) by one or more cloud platformservers. In at least one of the various embodiments, cloud code serversmay be operative on network devices separate from the cloud platformservers, or in some embodiments the cloud code servers and cloudplatform servers may be operative on the same network device.

In at least one of the various embodiments, cloud code servers, such as,cloud code server 508 and cloud code server 510 may be arranged toinclude one or more sandboxes, such as, sandbox 512 and sandbox 514 eachwhich may be arranged to execute cloud code.

In at least one of the various embodiments, sandboxes may be computerprocesses enabled to provide isolating computing environments forexecuting cloud code. In at least one of the various embodiments,sandboxes, such as, sandbox 512 and sandbox 514, may be arranged toguard against the harm that a malicious, unsafe, or poorly engineeredselection of cloud code may cause to the larger system and/or othersandboxes. Also, sandboxes may be used to help ensure that cloud code isprevented from accessing data and/or resources without authorization.

In at least one of the various embodiments, if a cloud code server isprovided cloud code, it may determine a sandbox to use for executing theprovided cloud code. In at least one of the various embodiments, ifthere are idle sandboxes, they may be retrieved from one or more queuesor pools that contain/reference sandboxes that are standing-by ready toexecute cloud code. In the case that an instantiated sandbox may beunavailable, the cloud code server may instantiate a new sandbox forexecuting the cloud code. In at least one of the various embodiments, ifthe execution of the cloud code is complete, the sandbox may be returnedthe queue.

In at least one of the various embodiments, the cloud platform may bearranged to establish a one or more timeout values, that if exceededcancels and/or aborts the cloud code function call. In at least one ofthe various embodiments, each level of operation of the cloud codefunction call may have a defined timeout. In at least one of the variousembodiments, the timeouts may be nested, in the sense that a firstoverall timeout is set as each function call associated with cloud codeis provided to the cloud platform. Then secondary timeouts may be setfor each stage of the process. The secondary timeouts may be shorterthan the first timeout and shorter than any enclosing prior secondarytimeouts. For example, the first timeout may be set to seven seconds,meaning that if the function call does not complete in seven seconds itmay be canceled by the cloud platform (enabling the caller to retry).Also, a secondary timeout of four seconds may be set at the cloud codeserver stage of the process. Thus, if the cloud code server stage doesnot complete within four seconds the cloud code server may cancel theoperation and report the timeout to the cloud platform. Further, asecondary timeout of two seconds may be set at the sandbox level. If thesandbox timeout is exceeded the sandbox may abort the execution of thecloud code and report the timeout and any associated error codes to thecloud code server. In at least one of the various embodiments, if thereis time remaining at a “higher” level, it may be used to attempt to curethe cause of the timeout below.

In at least one of the various embodiments, watcher 518 may monitor theactivity and operating characteristics of one or more sandboxes (e.g.,sandboxes 512, 514, or the like, one or more cloud code servers (e.g.,cloud code server 508, cloud code server 510, or the like), and one ormore cloud platform servers (e.g., cloud platform server 504). Watcher518 may be operative on any computing device, such as blade server 250,network device 400, or the like, that may be enabled to run watcherapplication 286, watcher application 426, or the like. Further, in atleast one of the various embodiments, watchers and/or the watcherapplication may be operative on a cloud platform server such as cloudplatform server 504 rather than being on a computing device that isseparate from a cloud platform server.

In at least one of the various embodiments, servers that may bemonitored by the watcher may establish communication with the watcherand periodically provide messages that indicate their operational status(e.g., heartbeat message). In at least one of the various embodiments,cloud code servers may update the watcher to indicate the status of thesandboxes as well as status of the cloud code server.

In at least one of the various embodiments, status messages regardingservers such as cloud code server 508, cloud code server 510, cloudplatform server 504, may include various performance metrics, such as,CPU utilization, resident memory utilization, disk paging, networkthroughput, or the like. In at least one of the various embodiments,status messages regarding cloud code servers may also include, metricssuch as, the number of sandboxes and their status (e.g., idle, busy,error), number of cloud code transactions, or the like.

In at least one of the various embodiments, watcher 518 may be arrangedto monitor sandboxes which may enable the detection of dead/frozensandboxes, run-away sandboxes, or the like.

In at least one of the various embodiments, if watcher 518 is providedstatus messages that indicate one or more problems may be occurring on acloud code server, it may initiate one or more remedial actions.Remedial actions include, resetting a sandbox, killing and deleting asandbox process, reallocating resources, adjusting resource quotas,rebooting a cloud code server, isolating a cloud code server from thecloud platform, or the like.

Furthermore, in at least one of the various embodiments, cloud platformserver 504, cloud code servers 508-510, or watcher server 518 may beoperative in a cloud-based computing environment. In at least one of thevarious embodiments, the platform may be deployed using virtual machinesand/or virtual servers that may be managed in a cloud-based basedcomputing environment. In at least one of the various embodiments, inthis context the virtual servers (e.g., cloud platform server 504, cloudcode servers 508-510, or watcher server 518) may flow from one physicalnetwork device within the cloud-based environment to another dependingon performance and scaling considerations that may be automaticallymanaged by the cloud computing environment. Likewise, in at least one ofthe various embodiments, virtual machines and/or virtual serversdedicated to running as cloud platform server 504, cloud code servers508-510, or watcher server 518 may be provisioned and de-commissionedautomatically.

In at least one of the various embodiments, network 516 may be anembodiment of network 102, network 104, network 106, or the like. Also,in at least one of the various embodiments, network 516 may representone or more physical networks and/or virtual networks comprising acloud-based computing environment.

Generalized Operation

FIGS. 6-9 represent the generalized operations of mobile applicationdevelopment in a cloud-based architecture in accordance with at leastone of the various embodiments. In at least one of the variousembodiments, processes 600, 700, 800, and 900 described in conjunctionwith FIGS. 6-9 may be implemented by and/or executed on a single networkdevice, such as network device 400 of FIG. 4. In other embodiments,these processes or portions of process thereof may be implemented byand/or executed on a plurality of network devices, such as networkdevice 400 of FIG. 4. In yet other embodiments, these processes orportions thereof may be implemented by and/or executed on one or moreblade servers, such as blade server 250 of FIG. 2B. However, embodimentsare not so limited and various combinations of network devices, bladeservers, or the like may be utilized. Further, in at least one of thevarious embodiments, the processes described in conjunction with FIGS.6-9 may be operative in cloud code platform architectures such as thosedescribed in conjunction with FIG. 5.

Furthermore, in at least one of the various embodiments, processes 600,700, 800, and 900 may be operative in a cloud-based computingenvironment. In at least one of the various embodiments, theseprocesses, applications, and components that comprise the mobiledevelopment platform may be executing in virtual machines and/or virtualservers that may be managed in a cloud-based based computingenvironment. In at least one of the various embodiments, in this contextthe processes may flow from one physical network device within thecloud-based environment to another depending on performance and scalingconsiderations automatically managed by the cloud computing environment.Likewise, virtual machines and/or virtual servers dedicated to runningprocesses 600, 700, 800, and 900 may be provisioned and de-commissionedautomatically.

FIG. 6 shows an overview flowchart for process 600 for deploying cloudcode in accordance with at least one of the various embodiments. Afterat start block, at block 602, cloud code may be provided to a cloudplatform. In at least one of the various embodiments, the cloud platformmay be operating as a cloud platform server such as, cloud platform 504.

In at least one of the various embodiments, the cloud code may be aselection of source code provided by a mobile application developer. Inat least one of the various embodiments, the provided cloud code may bewritten in various computer programming languages such as, JavaScript,Perl, Python, Lua, C, C++, C#, or the like.

In at least one of the various embodiments, the cloud code may beprovided with additional meta-data that may be used by the cloudplatform and cloud code servers for determining how to process and orvalidate the provided cloud code. For example, cloud code may beprovided with meta-data such as, developer ID, public keys (forcryptographically signed cloud code), application identifier (formapping the cloud code to a particular application), source codelanguage identifiers, or the like.

Next, at block 604, the cloud platform may validate and test theprovided cloud code. In at least one of the various embodiments, thecloud code may be validated to help ensure that it includessyntactically correct source code. In at least one of the variousembodiments, the cloud platform may determine the programming languagefor the cloud code and compile it using a compatible compiler. Errorsdetected during the compilation of the provided cloud code, if any, mayindicate that the provided cloud code may not be valid. In at least oneof the various embodiments, the programming language may be determinedusing various methods, including, scanning the cloud code to identifythe language, meta-data provided with the cloud code, a configurationvalues, or the like, or combination thereof.

In at least one of the various embodiments, further validation mayinclude confirming that the mobile application developer and/or themobile application associated with the provided cloud code may beauthorized to employ the cloud platform to use cloud code. For example,identifiers included with the cloud code, and/or associated with amobile application developer may be used to lookup and/or confirm thatthe appropriate licensing agreements are in place, outstanding invoices(if any) are paid up, or the like.

In at least one of the various embodiments, also, the provided cloudcode may be tested to determine if it conflicts with other previouslyprovided cloud code. For example, if the provided cloud code isdesignated to be associated with a function call that corresponds toother previously deployed cloud code, the cloud platform may takeactions, including, but not limited to, warning the applicationdeveloper of the conflict, aborting the cloud code deploy operation,ignoring the conflict and overwriting the conflicting cloud code, or thelike. In at least one of the various embodiments, the particular actionstaken may be determined based on stored configuration information, userinput, or the like.

Next, at block 606, the provided cloud code may be registered and madeactive for responding to requests. In at least one of the variousembodiments, if the cloud code is activated, it becomes available forservicing function calls provided to the cloud platform that areassociated with the provided cloud code. In at least one of the variousembodiments, the cloud platform may provide a list of available/activecloud code modules and the names and parameters associated with each. Inat least one of the various embodiments, such list of available cloudcode modules may be filtered such that mobile application developers mayview cloud code that is associated with their accounts/applications.Also, the lists of available cloud code may be further filtered based onuser permissions, or the like.

In at least one of the various embodiments, the provided cloud code maybe registered and associated with one or more trigger points. Triggerpoints may be particular states and/or conditions that may be associatedwith one or more cloud platform function calls, including, functioncalls built into the cloud platform rather than being limited tofunction calls associated with cloud code.

In at least one of the various embodiments, if a trigger point isencountered during operation, function calls (including cloud codefunction calls) registered with the trigger point may be executed. In atleast one of the various embodiments, common trigger points may include,“before”, “after, “on-save”, “on-delete”, “on-create”, “on-error”, orthe like.

In at least one of the various embodiments, cloud code that enablesapplication specific processing may be registered with one or moretrigger points. For example, registering cloud code with the triggerpoint “after” for a function call such as “saveNewUser” may enable theregistered cloud code to be selected and executed after the functioncall “saveNewUser” completes. Likewise, cloud code registered with thetrigger point “before” for the same function call may be executedautomatically each time “saveNewUser” function is called, but it may beexecuted before the called function is executed.

Also, in at least one of the various embodiments, the mobile applicationdeveloper that provides the cloud code may indicate that the cloud codemay be shared to other users and/or mobile application developers ratherthan being restricted to the mobile application developer that wasresponsible for deploying the cloud code. Also, in at least one of thevarious embodiments, sharing cloud code may trigger enhanced/additionalvalidation and authorization of the cloud code.

In at least one of the various embodiments, shared cloud code may enablethird parties to integrate their services with the cloud platform and/orthe mobile applications.

At block 608, the cloud platform may be provided requests by wayfunction calls associated with cloud code to use cloud code that may beexecuted in one or more sandboxes. The results of executing the cloudcode may be provided to the mobile applications that provided thefunction calls. Likewise, errors, authentication failures, timeouts, orthe like, may be reported, and/or logged, based on configurationsettings, or the like.

FIG. 7 shows a flowchart for process 700 for validating cloud code inaccordance with at least one of the various embodiments. After a startblock, at block 702, cloud code may be provided for validation. In atleast one of the various embodiments, the cloud code may be provided toa cloud platform server, such as cloud platform server 504, from amobile application developer.

At block 704, the provided cloud code may be authenticated. In at leastone of the various embodiments, the cloud code may be authenticatedbased on credentials associated with the user that may be deploying thecloud code. Credentials may be included with the provided cloud code (inmeta-data) or they may be based on session information associated withthe user that is deploying the cloud code. For example, user may providea username and password at the beginning of the cloud code deploymentprocess to establish user credentials. Of course, other well-knowncredentialing techniques may be used, such as cryptographic signing,security certificates, or the like.

In at least one of the various embodiments, at least a portion of thesupplied credentials may be employed by the cloud code platform todetermine if the user has the appropriate privileges for enabling thedeployment of the provided cloud code. In at least one of the variousembodiments, if the privileges may be insufficient and/or incorrect,further action may be taken, including, requesting that additionalcredentialing information be provided, rejecting the provided cloudcode, logging the authentication failure, or the like, or combinationthereof.

Next, at block 706, the provided cloud code may be scanned to detect ifit may include unsafe source code that may be recognized as having oneor more undesirable and/or unsafe characteristics, such as, thepotential to cause performance problems, attempts to access reservedresources, use of reserved words, attempted access of unauthorizedsoftware/system libraries, or the like.

In at least one of the various embodiments, one or more techniques maybe employed to validate the provided cloud code. In at least one of thevarious embodiments, more or less techniques may be used dependingdefined policies that may be based on configuration values, or othersources.

In at least one of the various embodiments, the cloud code may bescanned to identify code patterns that may indicate unsafe behavior,such as, unbounded recursion, infinite loops, excessive memoryallocation, or the like. Unsafe code is not limited to the deliberateattempts to disrupt the cloud platform; mobile application developersmay unwittingly introduce cloud code that includes unsafe code.

In at least one of the various embodiments, the cloud code modulecontents may be examined to see if the number of network access systemcalls exceeded a define threshold. The threshold value may be definedusing configuration values, or the like.

In at least one of the various embodiments, additional tests may includeestimating the probability that the function call will timeout beforecompletion. In at least one of the various embodiments, estimating theprobability of timing out may be done by keeping a record of one or morepreviously provided source code patterns that have resulted in timeouts.If provided cloud code includes one or more of the recognized patternsit may be deemed unsafe.

In at least one of the various embodiments, various techniques such aspattern matching, heuristics, or the like, may be employed to identifyunsafe code. In at least one of the various embodiments, a cloudplatform application may parse the provided cloud code to identify loopsthat have the potential to be unbounded. For example, a loop that isbounded by the value of a passed in parameter may be determined unsafeif the value of the passed in from client application has the potentialto very large. Likewise, cloud code that includes recursion that has thepotential for unbounded (or near unbounded) recursion depth may also bedetermined to be unsafe.

In at least one of the various embodiments, cloud code that makesnetwork calls to the cloud platform may also be determined to be unsafebased on its potential for consuming the resources of many sandboxes ifmany and/or recursive cloud platform-to-cloud platform network calls aremade.

In at least one of the various embodiments, particular system/librarycalls inherent in the programming language used write the provided cloudcode (or its runtime environment) may be deemed unsafe if they areincluded in the cloud code. For example, a cloud platform may beconfigured to prevent local resources, such as files, from beingaccessed from within a sandbox, thus if the provided cloud code includesfunctions for accessing protected local resources, even though the filesaccess call are standard to the cloud code's programming language, thatcloud code may be determined to be unsafe.

In at least one of the various embodiments, the provided cloud code maybe compiled by a compatible compiler. Errors detected during compiletime may be considered during the validation of the provide cloud code.

Next, at block 708, the cloud platform may perform one or more actionsto repair unsafe provided cloud code. In at least one of the variousembodiments, the methods used to repair unsafe cloud code may be basedon policies and/or business rules that may be defined usingconfiguration values (e.g., retrieved from configuration files,configuration databases, input at a user-interface, or the like).

In at least one of the various embodiments, for a given unsafecondition, policies may be set to reject the provided cloud code andreport that the cloud code is invalid, and optionally supply the reasonto the mobile application developer.

In at least one of the various embodiments, the portions of the unsafeprovided cloud code may be replaced by safe code. In at least one of thevarious embodiments, fail safe conditions may be inserted into loops andrecursions that have to potential to be unbounded. For example, thecloud platform may insert a test inside a loop to establish a predefinedupper bound.

In at least one of the various embodiments, sandboxes designed toexecute the cloud code may include one or more runtime engines and/orcompilers for compiling the provided cloud code and/or executing it.These runtime engines and/or compliers may be compatible with theprogramming language comprising the cloud code. In at least one of thevarious embodiments, they may include modifications that enable thecloud platform to add failsafe/safety code to the cloud code duringcompilation/execution. Thus, in at least one of the various embodiments,the cloud platform compilers may insert object code that guards againstrun-away loops, unbounded recursion, excessive memory allocations, orthe like.

Further, in at least one of the various embodiments, the runtimeengines/compilers may be arranged to silently override standardoperations normally available in a runtime engine and/or in aprogramming language. Additional safety precautions may be included inthe overridden functions to enable otherwise unsafe cloud code to besafer.

In at least one of the various embodiments, if a computer language usedby provided cloud code enables unbounded (unsafe) memory allocation, theimplementation of the cloud platform runtime-engine/compiler may bemodified to include built-in memory allocation limits.

Likewise, in at least one of the various embodiments, if a cloud codecomputer language enables memory buffers to be overwritten, the cloudplatform runtime-engine/compile may be modified to guard against overwriting buffers.

In at least one of the various embodiments, the cloud platform mayenable users with sufficient permissions and/or authority to over rideone or more determinations that the cloud code is unsafe. This enablesusers to review the source code of cloud code and override the cloudplatform validation process as necessary.

At decision block 710, if the provided cloud code is determined to besafe, control may flow to block 714. Otherwise, in at least one of thevarious embodiments, control may flow to block 712.

At block 712, because the cloud code remains unsafe it may be rejectedand the user attempting to deploy the cloud code may be notified of therejection. Next, control may be returned to a calling process.

In at least one of the various embodiments, a record may be kept of thewhy the cloud code was determined to unsafe and which applicationdeveloper provided the cloud code. In at least one of the variousembodiments, if mobile application developers provide unsafe cloud codea number of time that exceed a defined threshold, those mobileapplication developers may temporarily or permanently barred from thecloud platform.

At block 714, if the actions performed in block 708 have resolved theissues (if any) that made the cloud code unsafe, the provided cloud codemay be registered and activated for execution and control may bereturned to a calling process.

FIG. 8 shows a flowchart for process 800 for resolving a function callusing cloud code in accordance with at least one of the variousembodiments. After a start block, at block 802, a function call may beprovided to the cloud platform. In at least one of the variousembodiments, the function call may be from a client device such asclient device 300. Further, in at least one of the various embodiments,the function call may be initiated by a mobile application, such asmobile application 324 using a cloud platform interface, such as, cloudplatform interface 322.

In at least one of the various embodiments, the function call may be arequest sent over network and it may be provided in one or morewell-known formats, such as, JSON, XML, SOAP, HTML, or the like. In atleast one of the various embodiments, the function call may includevarious elements including, a function identifier (e.g., function name),parameters supplied for the function call, or the like. In at least oneof the various embodiments, meta-data may be provided for scoping thefunction call to various domains, such as, a particular mobileapplication, classes of mobile applications, users, user groups, mobileapplication developers, or the like, or combination thereof.

At decision block 804, if the function call is determined to be linkedand/or associated with to cloud code, control may flow to block 808.Otherwise, in at least one of the various embodiments, control may flowto block 806.

In at least one of the various embodiments, a function call may beassociated with a particular function name, or other function identifierthat was determined when the cloud code was deployed and registered. Inthese embodiments, the cloud platform may determine the cloud codeassociated with the function call based on a mapping between thefunction name or other identifier and the registered cloud code.

Also, in at least one of the various embodiments, the cloud code may belinked to the function call if the cloud code is registered with atrigger point that may occur before, during, or after the function callexecutes. In at least one of the various embodiments, one or moreoperations, including cloud code function calls, may be associated withone or more trigger points.

At block 806, the function call may be executed by the cloud platform.In at least one of the various embodiments, function calls not linked tocloud code may be implemented as built-in features of the cloudplatform. Built-in function calls may be executed by the cloud platformabsent interaction with cloud code. But, built-in function calls may beassociated with one or more trigger points that may have cloud codeassociated with them. Thus, in at least one of the various embodiments,executing a built-in function call may result in one or more cloud codefunction calls being triggered and executed. Next, if the built-infunction call runs to completion control may be returned to a callingprocess.

At block 808, the cloud code linked and/or associated with the functioncall may be retrieved. In at least one of the various embodiments, cloudcode may be stored and/or located in a database, file system, or thelike, and may be retrieved from storage by the cloud platformapplication using techniques well-known to one of ordinary skill in theart.

In at least one of the various embodiments, depending on the type ofprogramming language comprising the cloud code and/or one or moreconfiguration settings, the cloud code may be stored as source code,object code, or executable code. Next, control may flow to block 810.

At block 810, the cloud platform may determine a sandbox and/or a cloudcode server where the cloud code may be provided. In at least one of thevarious embodiments, the cloud platform may be associated with one ormore cloud code servers. Each cloud code server may communicate with thecloud platform over a network to indicate if it is available and/orready to execute cloud code.

In at least one of the various embodiments, the cloud platform maydetermine a particular sandbox for running the cloud code. In otherembodiments, the cloud platform may determine the cloud code server andlet the cloud code server determine which sandbox to use.

In at least one of the various embodiments, the cloud platform mayemploy one or more load balancing techniques to help ensure that thedetermined cloud code servers have resources available for executing thecloud code. In at least one of the various embodiments, cloud codeservers may report their current load status and/or availability to thecloud platform server. Thus, a combination of randomized distributionand the load status reported by the cloud code server may be employed todetermine which cloud code server may be provided the cloud code. Forexample, if the there are five available cloud code servers, and two ofthe cloud code servers report that they are over utilized and threereport that they are underutilized, the cloud platform may distributethe cloud code to one of the underutilized cloud code servers forexecution.

At block 812, the cloud code may be provided to the determined cloudcode server for execution in sandbox. In at least one of the variousembodiments, the cloud code may be provided from the cloud platformserver to the determined cloud code server.

Also, in at least one of the various embodiments, the cloud platformserver may communicate the cloud code location (and identity) to thecloud code server which may be arranged to retrieve the cloud codedirectly. In at least one of the various embodiments, if the cloud codeserver is located separate from the cloud platform server, the cloudcode may be provided over a network.

In at least one of the various embodiments, the cloud code server maydetermine a sandbox for executing the provided cloud code. In at leastone of the various embodiments, idle sandboxes compatible with the cloudcode may be standing-by in a queue, or, in at least one of the variousembodiments, a sandbox compatible with the provided cloud code may beinstantiated.

In at least one of the various embodiments, the provided cloud code maybe provided to the determined sandbox. In at least one of the variousembodiments, if the cloud code is source code the sandbox may compilethe cloud code into object code. If the cloud code is ready forexecution the sandbox may execute the cloud code using any relevantparameters and/or meta-data that may be associated with the cloud code.

In at least one of the various embodiments, the cloud platform may bearranged provide one or more cloud platform objects, such as, userprofiles, context object, session variables, or the like. One or more ofthese objects may be made available by the cloud platform to the cloudcode running in a sandbox. Depending on the runtime environment for thecloud code, the objects and/or there values may be passed in as implicitfunction call parameters, or they may be instantiated within the runtimeenvironment of the sandbox.

In at least one of the various embodiments, if the execution of thecloud code finishes, a return code (e.g., success/failure) may begenerated and provided to the cloud code server. Also, if the executionof the cloud code produces a result set, the sandbox may provide theresult set to the cloud server. In at least one of the variousembodiments, result sets may be provided in various formats, includingXML, JSON, or the like.

In at least one of the various embodiments, the cloud code server mayprovide the return codes and result sets to the cloud platform server.The cloud platform server may further provide them to the mobileapplication that provided the function call that was associated with thecloud code. Alternatively, in at least one of the various embodiments,the cloud code server may provide the results to the mobile applicationdirectly. Next, in at least one of the various embodiments, control maybe returned to a calling process.

FIG. 9 shows a flowchart for watcher process 900 in accordance with atleast one of the various embodiments. In at least one of the variousembodiments, a watcher process may be operative on a cloud platformserver, or it may be separate from the cloud platform server.

In at least one of the various embodiments, a watcher process may bearranged to monitor the availability and activity of cloud code serversand provide that information as necessary to the cloud platform server.In at least one of the various embodiments, cloud platform servers mayemploy the information provided by the watcher process if determiningwhich cloud code server and/or sandbox to use if responding to functioncalls associated with cloud code.

After a start block, at block 902, a watcher process may monitor theoperational health and/or availability of one or more cloud codeservers. In at least one of the various embodiments, the watcher maymonitor various performance metrics such CPU utilization, memory user,thread/process count, load level, disk space, swapping, networkconnection, or the like.

In at least one of the various embodiments, the watcher may be providedperformance metrics by the cloud code server. Likewise, in at least oneof the various embodiments, a watcher client agent that collects andprovides the performance metrics may be deployed on each cloud codeserver.

At decision block 904, if a problem with one or more of the cloud codeservers is detected, control may flow to block 906. Otherwise, controlmay loop back to block 902 so monitoring may continue.

At block 906, the watcher may perform actions to resolve the detectedproblem at the sandbox level. In at least one of the variousembodiments, the sandbox may be instrumented so that the watcher maytrigger the sandbox to cancel the operation that may be causing theproblem. In at least one of the various embodiments, alternatively, ifthe sandbox lacks sufficient instrumentation interfaces to resolve theproblem, or the problem otherwise fails to be resolved, the watcher maysignal for the cloud code server to terminate the sandbox that wascausing the problem.

At decision block 908, if the problem may be resolved control may moveto block 912. Otherwise, in at least one of the various embodiments,control may continue to the block 910.

At block 910, the watcher may attempt to resolve the problem at thecloud code server. In at least one of the various embodiments, this mayinclude killing and/or restarting one or more processes that may berunning on the cloud code server. In at least one of the variousembodiments, it may include taking action such as allocating additionalmemory, CPU resources, disk space, or the like, for the cloud codeserver.

In at least one of the various embodiments, if the watcher is unable toresolve the problem, the cloud code server may be re-booted. If thecloud code server has been re-booted but it causes still problems it maybe removed/isolated from the set of available cloud code servers.

At block 912, the detected problem and corresponding actions taken toresolve the problem may be logged preserving the event(s) and itsresolution for future review. In at least one of the variousembodiments, if the termination of sandboxes or the resetting of cloudcode servers interrupts the operation of cloud code function calls, oneor more of the cloud code function calls may be retried by the cloudplatform. Next, control may be returned to a calling process.

It will be understood that figures, and combinations of actions in theflowchart-like illustrations, can be implemented by computer programinstructions. These program instructions may be provided to a processorto produce a machine, such that the instructions executing on theprocessor create a means for implementing the actions specified in theflowchart blocks. The computer program instructions may be executed by aprocessor to cause a series of operational actions to be performed bythe processor to produce a computer implemented process for implementingthe actions specified in the flowchart block or blocks. These programinstructions may be stored on some type of machine readable storagemedia, such as processor readable non-transitory storage media, or thelike.

Accordingly, the illustrations support combinations of means forperforming the specified actions, combinations of steps for performingthe specified actions and program instruction means for performing thespecified actions. It will also be understood that each block of theflowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the flowchartillustration, can be implemented by modules such as special purposehardware systems which perform the specified actions or steps, orcombinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

1.-30. (canceled)
 31. A computer-implemented method comprising:receiving a cloud code module; validating at least a portion of thecloud code module; associating the cloud code module with a functionupon successful validation of the least a portion of the cloud codemodule, wherein the function is configured to execute the cloud codemodule; and identifying at least one of a plurality of sandboxes toexecute the cloud code module in the at least one identified sandboxwhen the function is called.
 32. The computer-implemented method ofclaim 31, wherein identifying at least one of the plurality of sandboxesfurther comprises identifying a cloud code server from a plurality ofcloud code servers based upon at least load balancing the plurality ofcloud code servers.
 33. The computer-implemented method of claim 31,wherein validating the at least a portion of the cloud code modulefurther comprises determining if the cloud code module is unsafe basedupon at least one code pattern.
 34. The computer-implemented method ofclaim 31, wherein identifying at least one of the plurality of sandboxesfurther comprises monitoring at least one activity for each sandbox,wherein remedial action is performed on at least one non-performingsandbox.
 35. The computer-implemented method of claim 31, furthercomprising identifying at least one non-performing cloud code serverfrom a plurality of cloud code servers based upon monitoring theactivity of each of the plurality of cloud code servers, whereinremedial action is performed on at least one non-performing cloud codeserver.
 36. The computer-implemented method of claim 31, whereinexecuting the cloud code module further comprises executing at least onesystem call that is modified to prevent the cloud code module fromexceeding at least one predefined resource threshold.
 37. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 31, wherein executing the cloudcode module further comprises generating a result to be provided to amobile application over a network.
 38. The computer-implemented methodof claim 31, further comprising authenticating the cloud code modulebased upon at least one credential.
 39. A cloud platform device,comprising: a transceiver that is operative to communicate over anetwork; a memory that is operative to store at least instructions; anda processor device that is operative to execute instructions that enableactions, including: receiving a cloud code module; validating at least aportion of the cloud code module; associating the cloud code module witha function upon successful validation of the least a portion of thecloud code module, wherein the function is configured to execute thecloud code module; and identifying at least one of a plurality ofsandboxes to execute the cloud code module in the at least oneidentified sandbox when the function is called.
 40. The cloud platformdevice of claim 39, wherein identifying at least one of the plurality ofsandboxes further comprises identifying a cloud code server from aplurality of cloud code servers based upon at least load balancing theplurality of cloud code servers.
 41. The cloud platform device of claim39, wherein validating the at least a portion of the cloud code modulefurther comprises determining if the cloud code module is unsafe basedupon at least one code pattern.
 42. The cloud platform device of claim39, wherein identifying at least one of the plurality of sandboxesfurther comprises monitoring at least one activity for each sandbox,wherein remedial action is performed on at least one non-performingsandbox.
 43. The cloud platform device of claim 39, further comprisingidentifying at least one non-performing cloud code server from aplurality of cloud code servers based upon monitoring the activity ofeach of the plurality of cloud code servers, wherein remedial action isperformed on at least one non-performing cloud code server.
 44. Thecloud platform device of claim 39, wherein executing the cloud codemodule further comprises executing at least one system call that ismodified to prevent the cloud code module from exceeding at least onepredefined resource threshold.
 45. The cloud platform device of claim39, wherein executing the cloud code module further comprises generatinga result to be provided to a mobile application over a network.
 46. Thecloud platform device of claim 39, further comprising authenticating thecloud code module based upon at least one credential.
 47. An articlecomprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium includinginstructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a system to:receive a cloud code module; validate at least a portion of the cloudcode module; associate the cloud code module with a function uponsuccessful validation of the least a portion of the cloud code module,wherein the function is configured to execute the cloud code module; andidentify at least one of a plurality of sandboxes to execute the cloudcode module in the at least one identified sandbox when the function iscalled.
 48. The article of claim 47, wherein identifying at least one ofthe plurality of sandboxes further comprises identifying a cloud codeserver from a plurality of cloud code servers based upon at least loadbalancing the plurality of cloud code servers.
 49. The article of claim47, wherein validating the at least a portion of the cloud code modulefurther comprises determining if the cloud code module is unsafe basedupon at least one code pattern.
 50. The article of claim 47, whereinidentifying at least one of the plurality of sandboxes further comprisesmonitoring at least one activity for each sandbox, wherein remedialaction is performed on at least one non-performing sandbox.
 51. Thearticle of claim 47, further comprising instructions that, when executedby the processor, cause the system to identify at least onenon-performing cloud code server from a plurality of cloud code serversbased upon monitoring the activity of each of the plurality of cloudcode servers, wherein remedial action is performed on at least onenon-performing cloud code server.
 52. The article of claim 47, whereinexecuting the cloud code module further comprises executing at least onesystem call that is modified to prevent the cloud code module fromexceeding at least one predefined resource threshold.
 53. The article ofclaim 47, wherein executing the cloud code module further comprisesgenerating a result to be provided to a mobile application over anetwork.
 54. The article of claim 47, further comprising instructionsthat, when executed by the processor, cause the system to authenticatethe cloud code module based upon at least one credential.